Nickels ‘disappointed’ in McGinn, might run again

Q13 political reporter C.R. Douglas chats with former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels during an interview. (photo courtesy of Q13)

Greg Nickels says he’s contemplating another run for Seattle mayor.

“If I had the fire in the belly and I saw a series of issues that I thought I could make a difference I might run again someday,” Nickels told Q13’s C.R. Douglas, adding that he hasn’t been happy with how the man who ousted him in the 2009 primary.

“As a Seattleite, I have been disappointed,” Nickels said of Mayor Mike McGinn. “As mayor you need to think of yourself as mayor of everybody. I think that inclusive agenda has been lacking.”

Nickels was Seattle’s mayor from 2001-2009. He was defeated by McGinn and businessman Joe Mallahan before the November election; McGinn went on to win a very close general election contest. Nickels’ loss been attributed to his administration’s poor response to a 2008 snowstorm that paralyzed the city, as well as his brusque style, which alienated many on the City Council and other groups, including the local environmental community, of which McGinn was a prominent member.

McGinn decided to challenge Nickels, partly over Nickels’ support for a tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct. During his first year-and-a half in office, McGinn was a vocal opponent of the tunnel, which Seattle voters formally blessed last month. That result was obviously a blow to McGinn.

Nickels, who has spent time at Harvard and at the United Nations since leaving City Hall, is the second big-name, former local politician to voice interest in the mayor’s gig. Former King County Executive Ron Sims has also hinted recently he may run in 2013. The next mayoral contest could be a crowded one. City Councilman Tim Burgess and state Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, are expected to be contestants, and Councilwoman Sally Clark, state Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, are also among the names being mentioned.

Despite his poor showing the last time around, Nickels would still be a formidable foe. For most of his time in office, he was able to preside over an uneasy alliance between organized labor, the business community and the greens. When Nickels fell in the primary, business and labor unenthusiastically rallied behind the businessman Mallahan. But McGinn was able to use his environmental base, an enthusiastic grassroots movement and strong debate performances to prevail.

What Nickels and Sims have that other potential McGinn opponents do not is tremendous local name recognition. And the fact that Nickels is so publicly flirting with a comeback is further sign that the establishment opposed to McGinn senses weakness – even though the election is a long way away.